In 1989 Warner Bros. released the first modern-day Batman film. Tim Burton's reimagining of the iconic comic character changed the trajectory of the franchise forever. His film had dark sensibilities, and a dramatic tone that was loosely based on the comic book published in the late '80s called The Killing Joke. Gone were Batman's classic light blue and yellow tights. In Tim Burton's tale, Bruce Wayne (played by Michael Keaton) donned a black armored Batman suit as he navigated his way through Gotham City, a place full of supervillains, deranged criminals, dirty politicians, anxious police officers, and hopeless romantics. The movie went on to win an Academy Award, and it set the stage for perhaps the greatest reboot in the history of comic-book-based films, The Dark Knight Trilogy. For many fans of DC Films, Michael Keaton will always be their Batman. In fact, when The Hollywood Reporter conducted a poll in 2019 asking the general public who their favorite Batman actor was, Keaton topped the list. So, when news broke that Warner Bros. was bringing him back to reprise the role in a live-action Batman Beyond film, they were elated. Now, it appears as if those plans have been scrapped altogether by the new regime at DC Films, headed by James Gunn and Peter Safran. The information was first brought forth by industry insider Jeff Sneider in the most recent installment of On The Hot Mic with Jeff Sneider and John Rocha.
"[James Gunn and Peter Safran] came in and said, 'Absolutely not,'" Sneider reported. "I'm sure that was part of the condition of even getting Keaton back in the first place... 'You have to develop a solo movie for me.' But I'm sure that they were just like, 'Nope. We're not messing with Batman. Batman is doing great right now, Matt Reeves' Batman. This, everything else Batman, or Joker, gone.'"
Despite the disappointing news, fans of the DC Universe will catch a glimpse of Micheal Keaton as Batman in The Flash. The upcoming film, starring Ezra Miller, will be centered around a multiverse that will feature two different Batman characters. One will be played by Michael Keaton, and the other will be portrayed by Ben Affleck.
Source: Comicbook
